BEIJING - China's national observatory issued a yellow alert on Sunday for a cold front that is forecast to sweep central and eastern China starting on Sunday.

From Sunday to Thursday, temperatures in most of central and eastern China are expected to drop by 6 to 10 degrees Celsius, said the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

In some parts of Henan, Anhui, Hubei and Hunan provinces, the temperature will drop by up to 16 degrees Celsius, said the NMC.

The cold front will be accompanied by gales, rain and snow, according to the NMC.

The NMC warned the public about possible transportation inconvenience due to the weather.

China has a four-tier color-coded system for severe weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.